Sokoto State Government on said Saturday it had stopped a six-month-old pregnant intending pilgrim from performing the 2013 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Bello Ahmed, the chairman of the Medical Screening Committee set up by the state Pilgrims Welfare Agency disclosed this on Saturday in Sokoto.
He said the female intending pilgrim from Tambuwal Local Government Area pilgrim was detected during the recent medical screening conducted in the area by the committee.
According to Ahmed, two male prospective pilgrims from Binji Local Government had also been barred due to some medical problems discovered by the committee.
“The first male intending pilgrim from Binji is being afflicted by complicated umbilical hernia while the second one from the area is battling with severe hypertension.
“The decision to bar these intending pilgrims was taken in their best interest, and it is to safeguard their lives.
“The screening exercise will be conducted in all the 23 local governments and any female intending pilgrim whose pregnancy is above three months will be barred from travelling to the Holy land for the Hajj exercise,’’ he said.
The chairman also said intending pilgrims suffering from other sicknesses like hypertension, diabetes and old age would be barred.
